Community Permaculture in Portugal, 80 Plus hour, 2 week PDC

Another dynamic Permaculture Design Certification Course is in the works for Portugal from the teaching team of TreeYo. With the addition of Sara Wuerstle in last years course, TreeYo has revamped its lineup for a more holistic course. Her extensive experience with natural building, animal systems, and community development will compliment Doug's water, soil, and trees focus within the design principles.

The course will continue the traditional format of a two week intensive, 72 Hour PDC (14 day schedule with one day off) just as Bill Mollison laid out. The course will be a engaging combination of interactive learning, field trips, and hands on activities. This format allows us to delve deep into the theory of the design principles, recount past design and implementation work, and progress Escola da Terra further towards its aim of a sustainable school. To learn more about our specific facilitation style and view the highlights of the past courses there, please visit the following: [url=http://www.treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com]www.treeyopermaculture.wordpress.com

The course will be held at the Escola Da Terra which has several water harvesting features (See video), gardens, and an emerging food forest. This will be the fourth course we have taught there at this brilliant small scale intensive site. There are numerous sites in the locale including our camping spot which are great examples of Permaculture. They feature earthworks and food forests from this lovely sub-tropical microclimate that allows avocado's next to apples to grow. Additionally, there is a great surrounding community that helps to deliver this course with lots of love. This intention manifests into delicious food, warm hosts, and a fun atmosphere. The course will be held near Sintra, just outside of Lisbon, which has very beautiful forests, beaches, and more moderate temperatures. The local villages have the feel of the countryside yet it is easily reachable from Lisbon. A 45 minute train ride and a 15 minute car ride and you are there.

This course follows the 14 chapters of Permaculture : A designers Manual by Bill Mollison. Some of the topics presented within that includes the following and more: - Ethics, Principles, and Methods of Design - Water harvesting, conservation, purification, and revitalization - Tree Crops, reforestation, and nutrient recycling - Soil classification, biological interaction, and remineralization - Tropical, Dryland, and Temperate influences on vegetation, housing, and earthworks - Nutrition, fermentation, and local food systems - Transition Towns – emerging and evolving approach to community level sustainability

Our aim as Permaculture trainers is to creatively facilitate a learning process that empowers people in permaculture design through experiential learning and hands-on training. Each student completes the course with a site design and presentation based on the skills and knowledge accumulated throughout the two weeks. This reinforces the material presented and allows students to gain the confidence needed to begin implementing sustainability initiatives into ones growing space and community.